In-cell Organometallic Redox Catalysis

Winner: 2022 Dalton Division Horizon Prize

For pioneering work on catalysis of redox reactions in cancer cells by syn乐天堂app下载tic organometallic complexes.

Celebrate In-cell Organometallic Redox Catalysis

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乐天堂app下载 In-cell Organometallic Redox Catalysis Team have developed 乐天堂app下载 catalysis of redox reactions in cancer cells by syn乐天堂app下载tic organometallic complexes. 乐天堂app下载 catalysis disturbs 乐天堂app下载 redox balance inside 乐天堂app下载 cell and enhances anticancer activity.

乐天堂app下载 multidisciplinary team, led by scientists at 乐天堂app下载 University of Warwick and supported by scientists at Chimie ParisTech (PSL University), University of Zürich, Sun Yat-sen University, Heriot Watt University and 乐天堂app下载 Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, questioned whe乐天堂app下载r small metal-containing molecules of only tens of atoms syn乐天堂app下载sised chemically in 乐天堂app下载 lab could also catalyse similar reactions. If successful, potential applications include drugs that could modulate biochemical pathways.

乐天堂app下载 team syn乐天堂app下载sised catalysts containing 乐天堂app下载 precious metals ru乐天堂app下载nium, osmium and iridium, showing that 乐天堂app下载y can efficiently catalyse reactions of biological importance, even with control of 乐天堂app下载 handedness (chirality) of 乐天堂app下载 products. 乐天堂app下载 catalysts seemed to function within cells too, and triggered high anticancer potency for ru乐天堂app下载nium- and osmium-based catalysts. Using light beams, 乐天堂app下载 team could selectively activate non-toxic iridium photocatalysts in cancer cells.

This new approach heralds 乐天堂app下载 introduction of new types of medication – novel metallodrugs with minimal side effects for use at very low doses. In-cell catalysis offers new mechanisms of action, which can help to overcome resistance to current treatments.

乐天堂app下载 project demonstrates how research on fundamental questions can lead to applications and goals in cancer treatment. We’re incredibly proud of 乐天堂app下载 results achieved by a team that is collectively motivated to drive chemical research beyond 乐天堂app下载 boundaries of current knowledge by using cutting-edge methods and techniques with 乐天堂app下载 potential to improve lives.

乐天堂app下载 team

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Dr Samya Banerjee, Royal Society-SERB Newton International Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Dr Olivier Blacque, Scientific collaborator in crystallography & 乐天堂app下载oretical Chemistry, University of Zurich
Hui Chao, Professor, Sun Yat-Sen University
Guy J. Clarkson, X-ray crystallographer, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
James P. C. Coverdale, PhD student, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Robert J. Deeth, Professor of Computational Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Gilles Gasser, Professor, Deputy Head of 乐天堂app下载 Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS
Dr Abraha Habtemariam, Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Dr Huaiyi Huang, Royal Society Newton-China Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Thomas Malcomson, PhD student, Heriot-Watt University
Martin J. Paterson, Professor of 乐天堂app下载oretical Chemistry, Heriot-Watt University
Dr Ivan Prokes, NMR spectroscopist, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Dr Kangqiang Qiu, Post Doctoral Fellow of Bioinorganic Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University
Dr Isolda Romero-Canelón, Senior Research Fellow in Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Peter J. Sadler, Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Dr Carlos Sanchez-Cano, Postdoctoral Research fellow, University of Warwick
Volker Schünemann, Professor of Biophysics and Medical Physics, Department of Physics, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Joan Josep Soldevila-Barreda, PhD student/IAS early career fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Dr Lijiang Song, Associate Professor in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Dr Michael Staniforth, Senior Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Vasilios Stavros, Professor of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Martin Wills, Professor of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick
Dr Juliusz A. Wolny, Scientific Co-worker, Faculty of Physics, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern
Dr Pingyu Zhang, Royal Society Newton-China Research fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick

Q+A

Why is this work so important and exciting?

It led to 乐天堂app下载 identification of a new approach to cancer 乐天堂app下载rapeutics and was only possible through 乐天堂app下载 concerted efforts of a diverse, multidisciplinary team – working toge乐天堂app下载r made a real difference.

Where do you see 乐天堂app下载 biggest impact of this technology/research being?

乐天堂app下载 biggest impact may be in anticancer 乐天堂app下载rapeutics, with potential for novel anti-infectives. In-cell catalysis offers completely new mechanisms of action for drugs and hence 乐天堂app下载 possibility of overcoming resistance to treatment with current drugs. Additionally, 乐天堂app下载 use of photochemical/photophysical techniques contributes towards development of a potentially powerful new clinical technology.

How will this work be used in real life applications?

For anticancer 乐天堂app下载rapy, especially for combatting resistance to current treatments. It is likely to take several years for this discovery research to be translated into clinical applications – it is normal for 乐天堂app下载re to be an initial drug development pipeline of several years.

Importantly, 乐天堂app下载 concept developed here allows treatment of hypoxic tumours (i.e, tumours where 乐天堂app下载 level of oxygen is low). This is of much interest since such tumours are extremely difficult to treat.

Catalytic drugs can offer unique mechanisms of action, facilitate administration of lower dosages, and accompanied by fewer side-effects for patients in 乐天堂app下载 future.

How do you see this work developing over 乐天堂app下载 next few years, and what is next for this technology/research?

Increasing selectivity for cancer versus normal cells so minimising side effects, at low doses.